Humidifying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A humidifier contains a reservoir through which a porous medium mounted on a framework is rotated, air being blown through the porous medium to evaporate water therefrom. A ring of gear teeth is carried by the framework and the latter is driven by a gear that engages the ring and a motor that drives the gear. The shaft of the gear is inclined at an upward angle to a horizontal plane.

United States atent inventor John Trautman Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Appl. No. 815,721 Filed Apr. 14,1969 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 Assignee Electrohome Limited Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Priority Dec. 6, 19613 Canada 037,016

HUMIDMING APPARATUS 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 261/92 Int. Cl. BOld 3/04 Field 01 Search 26l/83,92; 55/231. 232

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,471,133 10/1969 Sherwood 261/91 3,472,496 l0/1969 Coleman et a1 261/92 Primary Examiner-Tim R. Miles Assistant Examiner-Steven H. Markowitz An0rneyPeter W. McBurney ABSTRACT: A humidifier contains a reservoir through which a porous medium mounted on a framework is rotated, air being blown through the porous medium to evaporate water therefrom. A ring of gear teeth is carried by the framework and the latter is driven by a gear that engages the ring and a motor that drives the gear. The shaft of the gear is inclined at an upward angle to a horizontal plane.

Patented Aug. 3, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Amwwmu INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 3, 1971 3,596,886

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1O 76 I I 42 32 L; l 3 g I; 44

' i FIG. 4 FIG. 3 54 FIG. 5

QA/Iu auTnA/V INVIINI'OR HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a humidifying apparatus, more particularly, to humidifying apparatus of the rotating drum type.

One of the more popular designs of humidifiers for in-room use is the rotating drum type in which a drum having an open peripheral framework is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis in a vertical plane. The drum is circumferentially surrounded by and the framework overlayed by a belt of porous material which serves to take up water from a reservoir located at the bottom of the humidifier. As the drum rotates in operation, the water in the porous material contacts a stream of air passing out of the humidifier, and the air is thereby humidified. The humidifier is generally provided with a fan to draw dry air into the humidifier from the room and to blow the air through the porous material out of the humidifier into the room.

In order to direct the air from the fan through the wet porous material, a baffle may be provided associated with the drum and located opposite the fan. The baffle is generally dished inwardly of the drum in order to better direct the air from the fan through the porous material.

The drum is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis by means of a friction drive pulley engaging the periphery of the drum and another idler pulley. The friction drive for the drum suffers from the disadvantage that lime or other solid substances from the water can build up on the pulley and cause the drive to slip, thus impairing the efficiency of the humidifier. In addition, water may be transferred to the drive shaft of the pulley and, due to is horizontal alignment, pass along the shaft to the motor, thereby causing the motor to seize up by the accumulation of lime and other solid substances as the water evaporates, or to short out due to excessive moisture.

The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages attendant such prior art humidifiers. In accordance with the present invention a humidifying apparatus of the rotating drum type is provided firstly with positive drive means for the framework consisting of a ring of gear teeth on the framework and a gear engaging the ring. Secondly, the gear is provided with a shaft which is inclined to the horizontal and upwardly from the point of engagement of the gear with the ring.

The combination of these features overcomes the disadvantages attendant prior art humidifiers of the type hereinbefore noted. Thus, the feature of positive drive overcomes slipping of the drive and by inclining the shaft of the gear upwardly no water can pass along the shaft.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly cut away and partly exploded, of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view in section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a first detail of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a second detail of the embodiment of FIG. ll.

Referring to the drawings, a humidifying apparatus has a rear wall 12, two sidewalls 14, 16 and a front wall 18. Positioned between the front wall 13 and the rear wall 12 and coextensive therewith is a partition 20. An opening 22 is formed in the partition and a fan 24 is mounted in the opening 22. The fan 24 is mounted on a bracket 26 fixed adjacent the opening 22 to the partition 20 by rivets 28. Three freely rotatable wheels 30 are mounted on partition 20 by bolts 32 and nuts 34 (see FIG. 4). Each nut 34 bears against and is riveted to partition 20 by rivets 38. The wheels 30 serve to engage the inner rim 40 of a drum 42. The wheels 30 retain the drum 42 by virtue of having inclined faces 44 (see FIG. 4) which engage a complementarily shaped flange 46 of the rim The drum 42 which rotates about a horizontal axis in a vertical plane has an outer rim 48 in the form of a sleeve in which project a plurality of fines 50. The sleeve constituting the outer rim 48 is an integral part of an inwardly dished baffle 52. The fingers 50 serve not only as joiners between the rim 40 and baffle 52 but also combine with "the rims 40, 48 to form an open framework supporting a belt of porous material 54 circumscribing the drum 42. The material 54 may be an expanded polymeric material having an open-cell structure, but other types of material may be employed, if desired.

In order to keep the drum 42 from contacting the partition 20 at its lower portion, a button 56 wear-resistant material is mounted on the partition 20 and the rim 40 contacts button 56.

The inner rim 40 is provided on open face 58 (see FIG. 4) with continuous series of gear teeth 60 (see FIG. 5) constituting an integral ring of gear teeth. A first gear where 62 is mounted on the rear of partition to mesh with the gear teeth 60 when the humidifier 10 is assembled. A second gear wheel 66 meshing with the first gear wheel 62 (see FIG. 5) is mounted on the power output shaft 68 of a reduction gearing mechanism 70 of standard construction associated with an electric motor 72. It will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5 that shaft 74 on which gear wheel 62 is mounted and shaft 68 are both inclined upwardly from the horizontal and therefore it is impossible for water to accumulate on the shafts or to run into contact with the bearing for shaft 74 or the reduction gear mechanism 70 and therefore the danger of seizing up due to the buildup of solid deposits from the water is minimized. The gear wheels 62, 66 and gear teeth 60 provide a positive drive for the drum 42.

In operation, water is placed in the lower part of the humidifier 10 in the area between the front wall 18, the rear wall 12 and the sidewalls 14, 16 and constitutes a reservoir of water. The porous material 54 dipping into the reservoir of water takes up some of the water. Air is drawn into the humidifier by the fan 24. The baffle 52 serves to direct the air in the manner shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, i.e., outwardly of the drum 42 through the material 54. The drum 42 will rotate by the action of the electric motor 72, reduction gear mechanism 70, gear wheels 66, 62 and gear teeth 60 and the water taken up on or in the material 54 will be brought into contact with the air being forced through the material 54 by the fan 24, and the air will be humidified by evaporation of the water. The air leaves the humidifier through grills 76 placed in the top of the humidifier 10.

Many modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination, a humidifying apparatus comprising a housing, a reservoir within said housing for holding water, a framework mounted within said housing for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis, a porous medium supported on said framework and adapted to take up water as said medium passes through water in said reservoir, a fan for blowing air through said porous medium to evaporate water therefrom, a ring of gear teeth carried by said framework and drive means for driving said framework to rotate said porous medium through water in said reservoir, said drive means comprising a first gear engaging said ring and a motor drivingly connected to said gear, said gear having a first shaft defining the axis of rotation of said gear and being inclined at an angle to said horizontal axis upwardly from the point of engagement of said gear with said ring.

' 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said framework is circular and said ring of gear teeth is arranged peripherally of the framework.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ring of gear teeth is integral with said framework and said framework has a baffle associated therewith to direct air from said fan through said porous medium.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first gear and said motor are drivingly connected through a second gear, said second gear having a shaft parallel to said first shaft.

5. The apparatus of claim I wherein said first gear and said motor are drivingly connected through a gear reduction unit and a second gear, said second gear having a shaft parallel to said first shaft. 

1. In combination, a humidifying apparatus comprising a housing, a reservoir within said housing for holding water, a framework mounted within said housing for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis, a porous medium supported on said framework and adapted to take up water as said medium passes through water in said reservoir, a fan for blowing air through said porous medium to evaporate water therefrom, a ring of gear teeth carried by said framework and drive means foR driving said framework to rotate said porous medium through water in said reservoir, said drive means comprising a first gear engaging said ring and a motor drivingly connected to said gear, said gear having a first shaft defining the axis of rotation of said gear and being inclined at an angle to said horizontal axis upwardly from the point of engagement of said gear with said ring.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said framework is circular and said ring of gear teeth is arranged peripherally of the framework.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ring of gear teeth is integral with said framework and said framework has a baffle associated therewith to direct air from said fan through said porous medium.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first gear and said motor are drivingly connected through a second gear, said second gear having a shaft parallel to said first shaft.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first gear and said motor are drivingly connected through a gear reduction unit and a second gear, said second gear having a shaft parallel to said first shaft. 